Learning smooth shapes by probing (Q871061)

The authors consider the problem of discovering the shape of an unknown object of \(\mathbb R ^3\) through an adaptive process of probing its surface from the exterior. The main contribution of this paper is a new probing algorithm, the data structures used to find collision-free paths, for the probing device, and the analysis of the total cost of this sampling procedure [cf. \textit{L. P. Chew}, Proc. 9th Annu. ACM Sympos. Comput. Geom. 274--280 (1993)]. Several open problems based on the approach followed here are also indicated.